CVCSF in the News

Samantha Mannion knew that becoming a marine biologist would be a challenge, but had no inkling about the adventure she would have in June.

Samantha Mannion of West Peterborough, right, and Michelle Bibeau, also a UNH student, studied marine science on the Isles of Shoals this summer.

We will have a booth this year, again, this Saturday at the Monadnock Rotary Club and Monadnock Community Hospital Wellness Festival in Downtown Peterborough. Exhibit hours are 9 to 1. Please come, check us out, and participate in other festival events, including the Souperfest contest. This festival was a great success last year and is even better organized for this year.

Priscilla Coffill, one of CVCSF's first scholarship winners, graduated May 15, 2009 from NHTI in Concord with an Associates Degree in Nursing. What makes Priscilla's story unique is the way the community of Peterborough came together to support her.

CEO Peter Gosline joined others at the Monadnock Rotary Club meeting in July to recognize Priscilla and said, "We are glad to provide an opportunity for Priscilla, and we are happy to have someone with her energy and talent to join our nursing staff." On her behalf, her NHTI faculty adviser wrote, "Priscilla is absolutely wonderful. She is bright, caring and compassionate with patients and relates well with everyone. She told me that a local organization and Monadnock (Hospital) had provided scholarship monies to help her with education. I have to tell you how well spent those dollars were. Priscilla has been a strong and responsible student throughout the program and is planning on continuing her education. It is a pleasure to recommend her as a registered nurse." In accepting her invitation to appear at Rotary, Priscilla wrote, "I feel that the ConVal Dollars for Scholars organization played an enormous role in my success and I am so grateful for all the financial assistance as well as support and encouragement I have received.... It would be a pleasure to give back to the community that has done so much for me."

At the June 17 awards ceremony for graduating Conval High School seniors, the three top winners of the 2009 CVCSF scholarships were announced. Director of Guidance and CVCSF board member Joe Hayes, assisted by 2007 scholarship winner Priscilla Coffill, handed certificates to Samantha Mannion (Peterborough), Kathleen Taber (Bennington), and Patrick Morn (Peterborough). Samantha and Kathleen were awarded $6,000 each over two years and Patrick will receive $2,700 for his first year.

 

From left: Patrick Morn, Joe Hayes, Samantha Mannion, Priscilla Coffill and Kathleen Taber
(Photo by Annie Card)

Samantha Mannion will be pursuing her interest in oceanography at the University of New Hampshire. She excelled in her academic work and competed on the Ocean Bowl Team for the past three years. Kathleen Taber plans to study early childhood education in the fall at Pasco-Hernando Community College in New Port Richey, Florida. Throughout her school career she has maintained good grades, held a series of part-time jobs, and participated in a variety of school activities, including varsity cheerleading and the Future Educators of America Club. She has also completed several internships in early childhood education through Conval. Patrick Morn is of Cambodian descent and has lived with his grandparents while attending school at Conval. He is a four-year athlete at Conval and has worked hard to save money for college. He will be attending West Virginia University in the fall and hopes to study engineering. Congratulations to all three top scholarship winners for 2009, and best of luck for a successful start to your post-secondary academic careers.

The three runner up candidates for the two-year scholarship awards were announced at the awards ceremony held June 17, 2009 in the Conval High School auditorium. They are Carol Busch (Bennington), who plans to study elementary education at NHTI, Lisa Taylor (Francestown), who will also attend NHTI and study criminal justice, and Greg Brosseau (Peterborough), who plans to start his degree in business at Nashua Community College. The CVCSF monitors will keep track each of them through the fall semester and try to provide additional advice and support whenever possible. Good luck to these three successful graduates as they begin their college studies.